The Lost Princess

Chapter Twelve

I kept my eyes closed as I heard Aunt Rosalie walk down the stairs. I sat still with my head on the hard, kitchen table next to Kat's body. I had barely slept last night. Every time I would fall asleep, I would dream about Kat. Then I would instantly wake up. Eventually, I just closed my eyes and stayed awake.

I heard Aunt Rosalie shuffle over to the stove. I heard her fill up a pot with water and set it on the stove. The pot clinked against the iron stove. She lit the stove and started humming.

I heard more footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Good morning," Jakob said.

"Shhh. Ivy and Kat are sleeping," Aunt Rosalie whispered. "They both need their sleep."

"Okay. Is Ivy okay?" Jakob whispered.

"Yeah, she suffered a nasty bump on her head, but she'll be okay," Aunt Rosalie said.

"I mean about the ground shaking yesterday. Was that..."

"No, it was an earthquake," Aunt Rosalie said. "At least, that is the official story from King Maddox."

"But we've never had an earthquake here," Jakob said.

"Yes, and it also hasn't rained in twelve years, but it rained the other day. We are far overdue for weather," Aunt Rosalie said. "And now for some reason the weather is back."

"I don't think that's how it works," Jakob whispered.

"Yes, but the weather of the past twelve years hasn't made sense so we must just go with it," Aunt Rosalie said in her warning voice.

"Yes, ma'am," Jakob whispered.

I listened to Aunt Rosalie and Jakob prepare breakfast for everyone. After a few minutes of listening to them cook and hum, I pretended to wake up. I stretched my arms and back as I yawned. My back ached as I stretched. I had sat for too long leaning over the table.

"Good morning," Jakob said.

"Good morning," I said.

"How are you feeling?" Jakob asked.

"I'm okay," I said.

"Good morning, Ivy," Aunt Rosalie said. "Can you clean up Kat please?"

"Yes, of course," I said looking at Aunt Rosalie. Aunt Rosalie was wearing a long, pink robe. Her hair was up in a messy bun with red strands of hair falling out. Her tired eyes staring at Kat and me.

I started unwrapping Kat's bandages. I cleaned up the wound. Yellow and white pus seeped through the burnt edges. The smell of burnt hair and flesh filled my nose. The metallic blood smell overwhelmed the air. I looked back at Aunt Rosalie. I had never seen her look so tired and worn out. It looked like she barely slept last night. I turned back to Kat. I cleaned her wound with a clean, wet cloth. Then I wrapped her wrist with a new, dry cloth and placed her arm back on the pillow.

I felt Kat's forehead. Still warm. I got a new wash cloth and cleaned her face up. The sweat stained her skin as I cleaned her face. Dried blood was caked on her cheeks and neck. I scrubbed the dry blood off of her skin. I looked at Kat's clothes. Dried and wet blood filled her dress.

"We should change her clothes," I said.

"I thought about that, but I don't want to move her too much. Don't want her wrist to open up," Aunt Rosalie said.